Oyster-opener



(No Model.)

A. WARD.

OYSTER OPENER. Ne." 247,445. Patented Sept. 20,1881.

INVENTOR: a. ZVMW ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. PholnLflhogmpher. Waihinglnn. D. C.

' the line a: m, Fig. 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ANTHONY WARD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

OYSTER-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,445, dated September 20, 1881.

Application filed July 22,1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY WARD, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, havein'vented a new and useful Improvement; in Machines for Opening Shell- Fish, such 'as Oysters, of which the following is-a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvement, partlyin section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, the lever being shown in cross-section through Fig. 3 is a sectional end view of the same, taken through the line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an edge view of a wood-splitting knife. Fig. 5 is'a side View of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The especial object of thisinvention is to facilitate the opening of oysters, clams, and other shell-fish.

' In the drawings, A represents the base or bed plate of the machine, which is designed to be secured to a table, counter, or other support, as the work to be done may require.

To the base A, at its middle part and near one end, are attached or upon it are formed two short standards, B, the upper ends of which are slotted in line with thelength of the base A to receive the bar O.

The bar 0 slides longitudinally in the slots in the upper ends of the standards B, and is held down to its place and made to move in a straight line by rollers D, pivoted in the slots of the said standards B, above the said bar 0, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Thesliding bar 0 is moved forward and back by a lever, E, the lower end of which is pivoted to a lug, F, attached to the base A.

The lower part of the lever E is slotted to receive the bar 0, and is made to move the said bar O forward and back by lugs or shoulders or stops G, formed upon the sides of the bar O, and between which the said lever E rests, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The forward end of the sliding bar 0 is slotted to receive the shank of the knife H,which is secured in place detachably by a pin or screw,

I. The blade of the knife H is made in the shape of a half-wedge, as shown in Fig. 1, and pointed, as shown in Fig. 2, so that it will readily enter between the parts of the shell of an oyster, clam, or other shell-fish and force the said parts of the shell apart.

The oyster is supported while being opened against the push of the knife H by being held against the standard J, which has a cross slot, groove, or recess, K, formed in it to receive the edge of the oyster, so that it can be readily centered and held in place while being opened. The standard J is secured in place by a screw, L, which passes up through a slot, M, in the base A and enters the lower end of the-standard J, so that by loosening the screw L the said standard J can be moved forward or back as the size of the oysters to be operated upon may require.

By attaching the base A to a wall or other Vertical support the machine can be used for splitting wood. In this case the knife H should be replaced by a knife, N, made wedge-shaped or inclined upon both sides and with a straight or rounded edge.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a machine for opening shell-fish, the combination of the base A, the bar O, sliding in standards B B under rollers D D, and the lever E, straddling said bar between its shoulders G G, and pivoted to the base-lug F,whereby the knife may be operated, as described.

2. An opening-knil'e,H, made in the form of a half-wedge and pointed, as shown and described.

3. In machines for opening shell-fish, the standard J, arranged in line with the reciprocating knife, provided with a cross-slot, K, and made adjustable in slot M of base, as shown and described.

ANTHONY WARD.

Witnesses:

JAMES T. GRAHAM, (J. SEDGWIGK. 

